Emphasizing Partnerships While Traveling Between China and Taiwan
"Amazing," Says Huang About Huawei's Foldable Phone
In Contrast to Tim Cook, Who Pledged Loyalty by Attending Trump's Inauguration
The CEOs of Apple and Nvidia, who are competing for the top two spots in market capitalization on the U.S. stock market, are showing completely different approaches to the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. Despite the dawn of the artificial intelligence (AI) era, the two companies, which have very little mutual interaction, still appear like oil and water. It remains to be seen whether this situation will influence the Trump administration's stance toward these two companies.
According to media reports from the U.S., China, and Taiwan, on the 20th (local time), the day of President Trump's inauguration, Apple CEO Tim Cook stayed in Washington D.C., while Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang was in Beijing, China. Cook attended the inauguration ceremony alongside key figures from big tech companies such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, and Sundar Pichai.
Although the indoor inauguration ceremony was attended by only about 800 people, Cook's seat was special. He also personally donated $1 million to the Trump inauguration.
Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, is holding Huawei's 3-fold foldable smartphone while celebrating the Lunar New Year with employees in Beijing, China on the 19th. Photo by SNS capture
Cook sat right behind the podium at President Trump's inauguration. Trump showed clear consideration for Cook, who had been friendly toward him since his first term in office. Apple-focused media 9to5Mac noted, "Cook sat separately from other big tech CEOs," highlighting Trump's special treatment of Cook.
Apple CEO Tim Cook (center) attended the inauguration ceremony of President Donald Trump held in Washington DC, USA, on the 20th (local time). Photo by Reuters and Yonhap News
On that day, Cook posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, "Congratulations to President Trump and Vice President Pence on their inauguration. We look forward to working with the administration to continue the growth, innovation, and job creation of our great country." U.S. media have noted that Cook is a CEO who knows how to handle President Trump.
President Trump also expressed expectations for Apple at an event held the day before the inauguration, saying, "Apple has promised to make massive investments in our country as a result of our great victory."
Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, is taking a commemorative photo with Taiwanese partners before having dinner together. Photo by SNS
While Cook aligned closely with Trump, CEO Huang was actively traveling in Taiwan, which accuses China?one of Trump's targets?and the U.S. semiconductor industry of theft, ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year. Huang spent time in Shenzhen, China, then in Taipei and Taichung, Taiwan, and on the day of Trump's inauguration, he was in Beijing, China. He is also reported to be visiting Shanghai.
Although Huang is actively moving between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, neither China nor Taiwan appears to be wary of him. Rather, they offer interpretations that are mutually beneficial. He seems unconcerned about the U.S. government's regulations limiting Nvidia's GPU supply to China during his visit.
Wherever he goes, Huang makes statements tailored to local tastes. According to Taiwan's Commercial Times, at an event at Nvidia's Beijing office, Huang said, "Through GeForce (Nvidia's consumer graphics card), Nvidia was able to enter China 25 years ago, earlier than any other tech company. Many Chinese researchers grew up playing video games using Nvidia's GPUs," then praised Chinese developers by saying, "Ordinary people cannot understand Nvidia's CUDA; only Superman can." CUDA is essential for AI development using Nvidia GPUs. It is estimated that there are about 1.5 million CUDA developers in China.
In Taiwan, he gathered key partners such as Wei Zhe TSMC CEO for a meal, rallying for a "Team Taiwan."
On the 19th, at a meeting held at Nvidia's Beijing office, a participant was seen showing Huang Huawei's triple-foldable smartphone. On the Chinese social network Weibo, a video of Huang reacting to the triple-fold Huawei smartphone as "incredible, unbelievable" is circulating. Huang also said, "It seems good for reading and watching videos. It has the same thickness as a regular smartphone." Huawei is a Chinese telecommunications company regulated by the U.S.
Chinese reporters followed Huang's itinerary and asked about his relationship with China, to which Huang replied, "We have many employees and partners here."
A video capturing Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, attending a meeting at NVIDIA's Beijing office, showing his surprise upon seeing Huawei's foldable smartphone. Video=Captured from SNS
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